Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

[kerouac9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIms6ImVG6w

That's the cut-up of film against Texas A&M, Auburn, Alabama, and Northwestern. Really interesting stuff. Here are my thoughts:

- Mingo is a football player. He has a lot of physical tools, but mostly you can see that he knows the game, he knows what to expect, and he knows what he's doing. He has excellent awareness of developing screens and outlet passes, and releases to cover them.
- Mingo has excellent get-off. When he goes into speed rush, he's consistently the first out of his stance and across the line in a really talented Tigers defensive line.
- Mingo is a technician; he has a variety of pass rush moves. He's exceptionally good at getting under the opponent's pads and standing them up and trying to win the leverage battle. He was playing against a couple of first-day picks at RT in the A&M and Alabama.
- He takes good angles in pursuit of the ball.

There were concerns that I had, though, too.

- I don't think that Mingo is an outside linebacker. He's going to get that tag because he's a little light, but I didn't see him ever drop into coverage or have to make a play on the ball that's in the air.
- Mingo's a little bit reliant on his spin move. He does a good job setting up his opponent for other moves, but when in doubt, he's going to the spin move.
- Mingo's closing ability is in question.
- I'm also not sure that Mingo has strong hands. He didn't seem to be able to wrap up people very easily.
- He might not make enough big plays. I guess he had 15 sacks last year for LSU, but I'd like to see him play more aggressively.

The player that Mingo reminded me the most of is Dwight Freeney. Freeney has a killer spin move, and Freeney was also really, really undersized coming out of Syracuse.

If I'm a 3-4 defensive team, I'm not sure where the risk-reward equation balances out in Mingo's favor. He's not a Top 10 pick for me. I think when you stand him up it's going to really take away some of his best assets.

Like Freeney, Mingo's going to be best for a Tampa-2 defense that is going to protect him in the run game and allow him to get after the quarterback.

 

[GatorAZ]

Mingo will be labeled a bust by some because of his lack of sack #'s at first but 3-4 years from now imagine that body. He could be a speed rush version of Aldon Smith minus the elite brute strength.

Different positions but look at D-Wash's body from TCU to now. Mingo could have this league by the short & curlys in a few years and I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I'm not 100% sure but I thought Mingo played more of a OLB position his sophomore year and more of DE position this past year. I'm pretty sure I read that his production was down this year because of the position switch and he is actually better suited for OLB, which is somewhat supported by his 15 TFL and 8 sacks as a soph versus 8.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks as a junior. I don't think in either scheme that he will be much of a factor as a run defender.

 

[Snakester]

Looks like tarzan and plays like Jane. I wouldn't take him in the third round. He couldn't even beat DJ Fluker who sucked as a pass protector.

 

[Chopper0080]

Again, it looks like I like Mingo more than you do. Like Jordan, I think you are getting a very raw rush prospect and it will take a solid team to get the most out of him.

Your break downs of both Mingo and Jordan highlight the big issue at the top of this draft IMO. The best and most finished prospects in this draft are at OG and DT. Past that, you are really betting on athletic skill and potential (Joeckel, Fisher, Lane Johnson, Ansah, Jordan, Mingo, and Milliner). As you said, most of these guys probably project to the 11-20 range, but facts are players have to be taken at the top of the draft, and these guys are going to give teams the most "potential" to develop.

Jordan is still my #1 guy for the Cardinals, followed by Warmack and Cooper.

 

[kerouac9]

Again, it looks like I like Mingo more than you do. Like Jordan, I think you are getting a very raw rush prospect and it will take a solid team to get the most out of him.

Your break downs of both Mingo and Jordan highlight the big issue at the top of this draft IMO. The best and most finished prospects in this draft are at OG and DT. Past that, you are really betting on athletic skill and potential (Joeckel, Fisher, Lane Johnson, Ansah, Jordan, Mingo, and Milliner). As you said, most of these guys probably project to the 11-20 range, but facts are players have to be taken at the top of the draft, and these guys are going to give teams the most "potential" to develop.

Jordan is still my #1 guy for the Cardinals, followed by Warmack and Cooper.

Mingo's started two-plus seasons for one of the best college football programs in the country. How much more seasoning does he need? As I said, he has a variety of pass-rush moves, and knows how to sequence those moves. What is NFL coaching going to provide to him?

I'm actually happier with Mingo than I am with Jordan. If you're able to sack the quarterback, you're probably going to be able to do it at every level. I don't think there are guys that only sack the quarterback 3 times a year in college but then become 12+ sack guys in the NFL. When you step up to the next level, things tend to get harder.

I saw Mingo playing a lot of two-gap defense as part of the three-down alignment LSU was playing against A&M and 'Bama. Against Auburn, he was consistently winning one-on-one matchups.

I don't see the rush ability that you do in Jordan, but I'd love for you to show me where it is in a game that isn't a highlight reel. But if Cbus is right and Jordan's ceiling is a platinum-plated Sam Acho, I'd rather go in another direction.

I'll look at Damontre Moore this afternoon, probably.

 

[Chopper0080]

Mingo's started two-plus seasons for one of the best college football programs in the country. How much more seasoning does he need? As I said, he has a variety of pass-rush moves, and knows how to sequence those moves. What is NFL coaching going to provide to him?

I'm actually happier with Mingo than I am with Jordan. If you're able to sack the quarterback, you're probably going to be able to do it at every level. I don't think there are guys that only sack the quarterback 3 times a year in college but then become 12+ sack guys in the NFL. When you step up to the next level, things tend to get harder.

I saw Mingo playing a lot of two-gap defense as part of the three-down alignment LSU was playing against A&M and 'Bama. Against Auburn, he was consistently winning one-on-one matchups.

I don't see the rush ability that you do in Jordan, but I'd love for you to show me where it is in a game that isn't a highlight reel. But if Cbus is right and Jordan's ceiling is a platinum-plated Sam Acho, I'd rather go in another direction.

I'll look at Damontre Moore this afternoon, probably.

By seasoning, I mean technique and focus. That is what the NFL teaches these players. Athletes like Mingo get bye in college because they are just better athletes than the guy across from them. They don't have to develop a pass rushing arsenal, or work on their hand use, or work on their leverage. In the NFL they have to in order to be successful.

As far as Dion Jordan, I will look to see if I can find something that highlights what I see in him.

Have fun with Moore, he is difficult. Watch the Oklahoma cutups if you can.